By Roy Ward
All the picks from the 2024 AFL draft. First-round picks are being made on Wednesday, with remaining selections happening on night two.
1. Sam Lalor, Richmond
What Lalor said: “They came around to my house on Monday and told me [I would be first pick], I told a few people close to me but there were plenty of people here who wouldn’t have known,” Lalor told Fox Footy.
2. Finn O’Sullivan, North Melbourne
What O’Sullivan said: “I had no idea,” O’Sullivan told Fox Footy when asked if he knew he was going at pick two.“It was a pretty surreal moment when your name is called. I’m pretty star struck.”
3. Jagga Smith, Carlton
What Smith said: “I think they looked after me a bit, it’s so good to have everything to me to have them all here to support me,” Smith told Fox Footy after arriving with a large group of family and friends.
Smith has also immediately declared he has ended his life-long support of Collingwood.
“I’m off them now,” Smith told Fox Footy with a laugh.
4. Sid Draper, Adelaide
What Draper said: “To hear my name called out is such a special moment for me and the family,” Draper told Fox Footy. “It was a tough start to the year. No one wants to hear they have a stress fracture [in their back] in their draft year but I was able to get back and play football, I was lucky.”
5. Levi Ashcroft, Brisbane
What Ashcroft said: “It feels very special to finally make that I’m going to Brisbane official,” Ashcroft told Fox Footy. “Dad was pretty good at sharing the attention around between all of us. He has done so well [in football] and hopefully I can do them all proud.”
On why he didn’t touch the premiership trophy Brisbane won this year:
“Hopefully, I can touch my own one day, so I didn’t want to touch that one,” Ashcroft told Fox Footy.
6. Harvey Langford, Melbourne
What Langford said: “I think I was pretty stiff [to miss out on Victoria’s under-16 team] but since then I’ve worked so hard and I just can’t believe it [that he’s been drafted].”
7. Josh Smilie, Richmond
What Smilie said: “It’s a privilege to be handed my Richmond jumper by Jack Riewoldt,” Smilie told Fox Footy. “I’m very grateful to be joining the club. “The past 18 years, I couldn’t thank my family more for all that they have done for me. I’m just really privileged to be here today, it’s awesome.”
8. Tobie Travaglia, St Kilda
What Travaglia said: “I had inklings [I might go to St Kilda], but I didn’t really know for sure but when the camera was pointed at me I thought, yeah here we go,” Travaglia told Fox Footy as St Kilda delivered team scarfs to his family and friends.
9. Leonardo Lombard, Gold Coast
What Lombard said: “It’s really special [to be drafted to Gold Coast] and have my jumper presented by Jake Rogers,” Lombard told Fox Footy. “I’ve always looked up to him and he’s been my best mate for a long time. He’s pretty much been a big brother to me.”
10. Alix Tauru, St Kilda
What Tauru said: “I’m never one to compare myself to AFL players as they are up there and I’m down here,” Tauru told Fox Footy when asked about comparison’s to Hawthorn’s Jame Sicily.
“But, at this point, when I get cracking in, I think I can be as good as anyone.” Tauru also said it was “in his dreams” to win the mark of the year award after topping the running leap measurement during testing.
11. Xavier Lindsay, Melbourne
What Lindsay said: “She’s probably on the money – I’d rather eat than cook,” Lindsay told Fox Footy after being asked about his mum’s claim that he can’t cook.
He also said being drafted to Melbourne is a dream come true.
12. Taj Hotton, Richmond
What Hotton said: “This is a dream come true. I can’t believe it and I wasn’t expecting to go this early,” Hotton said.
Hotton, who was watching at home, is recovering from an ACL injury suffered in May but he hopes to be back running in “ASAP, in a week or so”.
13. Isaac Kako, Essendon
What Kako said: Kako is best mates with last year’s Essendon top pick Nate Caddy and the pair shared a hug after Kako was selected.
“It was real special supporting him last year and I’m happy he is here supporting me this year,” Kako said.
“We are a real dynamic duo,” Kako said of him and Caddy who were also schoolmates at Parade College. But he admitted coach Brad Scott could end that sort of talk, “yeah I reckon he will”.
14. Jonty Faull, Richmond
What Faull said: “I had a bit of a feeling [he could go to Richmond] but it was such an open draft that I didn’t have a clue,” Faull said.
15. Joe Berry, Port Adelaide
What Berry said: “I put a fair bit of work into my finishing and I was lucky enough to get a few goals on the board this year,” Berry told Fox Footy.
“I like Robbie Gray’s game and it’s awesome to get there [to Port Adelaide] – I’m looking forward to it.”
